AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1408, 18 December 1884, Page 2

AUSTRALIAN NEWS.

Sydney, December 12. There are no further small-pox cases in this city, but the disease has d eveloped itself accongat some of the persons sent to the quarantine station. Dr Donovan, who omitted to report the case under his care, and so caused the present epidemic, has been fined LSO at the Police Court. There are other oasss against him. The weather so far has been favorable, dry and warm The Premier leaves shortly f«r Tasmania, and goes thence to New Zealand. Mr Dailey’s health is very unsatisfactory. A cordial welcome was given last night to the Rev W. G. and Mrs Lowes from New Guinea. Amongst the speakers were the Governor and Commodore Erakine. The Hon Joseph Docker, Chairman of Committees in the Legislative Council, died at the age of*B3. The will of the late Hon John Fraser has been proved at L 400,000. He leaves several charitable bequests. Satisfaction is expressed at the new mail arrangements entered into for the San Francisco service. A public banquet is to be given to the Ministry in recognition of their many useful public acts. All parties are invited to take part in the aifair. In consequence of the limited rainfall an intermittent water supply is already to take place in some of the suburbs. Brisbane, December 12. The amendments made by the Council in the Land Bill have been disagreed with by the Assembly. Henry Schofield, late Government agent of the labor schooner Hopeful, was found guilty of the charge of kidnapping. Sentence was deferred. Melbourne, December 12. A Parliamentary picnic took place yesterday. The weather was unfavorable. The Trades Union Bill has passed the Trades Hall Executive, and an amendment has been made in the Bill which would bring Trades Unions under the operation of the criminal laws. A woman named Prosser has teen arrested on the evidence of her daughter to the effect that she had poisoned a child with rum, and that, after keeping the body in the house for a month, she buried it iu the back-yard, where the remains were found yesterday. Major-General Downes, late Commander at Adelaide, is a candidate for the office of Secretary of Defence, a new office.